Anna wants defamation case against him to be withdrawn

Mumbai, Aug 25: Anna Hazare, the Gandhian crusader who is on an indefinite strike against corruption has approached the Bombay High Court to withdraw the defamation case filed against him in 2003 by Shiv Sena MLA, Sureshdada Jain from Jalgaon.

The case was filed against Anna after he made some defamatory remarks against the then NCP leader Jain, at a press conference in Nanded. The case was filed based on newspaper report against Anna in Mumbai and Jalgoan in Jun 5, 2003 and Jun 23, 2003.

Anna in his petition said that the metropolitan magistrate, Mumbai and judicial magistrate, Jalgaon issued criminal proceedings against him, alleging that Jain on purpose chose to go on with the trial at Jalgoan and not in Mumbai to see how Anna would defend himself. He further added that because of Jain's trick, he was being denied justice of fast trial at both Mumbai and Jalgaon.

According to Jayesh Yagnik, additional public prosecutor, the trail at Jalgaon is almost over.

“Only Hazare"s statement is required to be recorded under section 313 of the Criminal Procedure Code," said Yagnik.

The matter was then taken up before AM Khanwilkar and justice PD Kote.